Improved gunpowder



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LOUIS H. G. EHRHARDT, OF ALDRIDGE ROAD VILLAS, BAYSWATER,

ENGLAND.

IMPROVED GUNPOWDER.

To all whom it may concern:

Beitknown that I, LOUIS HENRY GUSTAVUS EHRHARDT, of Aldridge RoadVillas, Bayswater, England, have invented an Improved Gunpowder and I dohereby declare that the following is afull and exact descriptionthereof.

The nature of my invention consists in the combination of mineral carbonwith cutch, tannin, or gambier to form an inexplosive powder, which,when subsequently mixed with a second mpowder, composed of chlorate andnitrate of potash, will form an improved explosive gunpowder of greatpower, and also in the immediate combination of mineral carbon withchlorate and nitrate of potash and cutch to form an explosive gunpowder.

I prefer in all cases to manufacture and to transport until required forimmediate use the ingredients composing my improved gunpowder in suchmanner as will obviate all risk and danger of accidental or prematureexplosion. I therefore divide them into two powders, which may each beseparately handled and transported without risk of explosion.

The first powder is composed of one part of cutch, or its equivalent, tofour parts of mineral carbon the second of two parts of chlorate ofpotash to three parts of nitrate of potash. VVhen required for use as anexplosive compound these two powders are to be mixed together in theproportion of twenty-five pounds of the cutch and carbon to fifteenpounds of the chlorate and nitrate of potash.

I contemplate the use of tannin, catechu, gum-kino, or other equivalentof cutch in the stead thereof as an ingredient in my compound.

I do not claim, broadly, the use of tannin and its equivalent in thecomposition of an explosive gunpowder but What I claim as my invention,and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination of mineral carbon with cutch, tannin, or gambier,substantially as herein described, to form a safety-powder, which may berendered explosive at will by the addition of chlorate and nitrate ofpotash, in proportions substantially as herein set forth.

2. The combination of tannin, or its equivalent, with mineral carbon,chlorate of potash, and nitrate of potash, substantially in the mannerand for the purpose herein set forth.

L. H. G. EHRHARDT.

Witnesses BENJ. BEoWNE,

49 King William Street, London. G. T. WARREN,

N 0. 17 Gracechm'ch Street, London.

